What's happened
Kilicdaroglu was chosen by a six-party opposition alliance, known as the 'Table of Six', to face President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in May's election.
Why it matters
The upcoming elections in Turkey are seen as make-or-break for the country's democracy. Kilicdaroglu's selection as the opposition candidate offers a radically different vision to Erdogan's authoritarian rule, but analysts have questioned his ability to pose a real threat to Erdogan.
What the papers say
Politico and BBC News both report on Kilicdaroglu's selection as the opposition candidate, with Politico highlighting the skepticism around his prospects, while BBC News notes that the economic crisis and errors during last month's earthquake may make him more vulnerable than in previous elections. Both sources also mention the highly polarised nature of Turkish politics and the tight race expected in the upcoming elections.
How we got here
Erdogan has centralized power in his own hands and built a personalist autocracy and encouraging a cult of personality. The opposition coalition, consisting of parties across the political spectrum from left to right, came close to falling apart during negotiations to select a joint candidate, but ultimately chose Kilicdaroglu as their candidate.
More on these topics
-
Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu is a Turkish social democratic politician. He is leader of the CHP and has been Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey since 2010.
-
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is a Turkish politician serving as the 12th and current President of Turkey. He previously served as Prime Minister of Turkey from 2003 to 2014 and as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998.